The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is an Australian non-profit organisation established in 1999 to help protect and preserve the

Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over over an area of approximately . The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, ...

. The foundation was formed in response to the first mass

coral bleaching Coral bleaching is the process when corals become white due to various stressors, such as changes in temperature, light, or nutrients. Bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel the zooxanthellae (dinoflagellates that are commonly referred to as al ...

of the reef in 1998.{{Cite web, url=https://www.aims.gov.au/docs/research/climate-change/coral-bleaching/bleaching-events.html, title=About the Australian Institute of Marine Science, last=Science, first=jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Institute of Marine, website=www.aims.gov.au, language=en, access-date=2019-09-14

Climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...

is the number one threat to the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally. The foundation is the lead charity for the Great Barrier Reef, funding more than 30
projects
with over 400 partners bringing together science, Traditional Owners, community, citizen science, government, business and NGOs in the mission to save the Reef and all its living diversity for future generations.

2018 Government grant

During the International Year of the Reef in 2018 the Turnbull Government announced a AUD$443 million grant to the foundation. The purpose of th
grant
is to achieve significant, measurable improvement in the health of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in accordance with th
Reef 2050
framework and underpinned by innovation, science and community engagement: Projects enabled through the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the foundation have si
areas of focus
water quality, crown-of-thorns starfish control, reef restoration and adaptation science, Traditional Owner Reef protection, community Reef protection and integrated monitoring and reporting.

References

Organizations established in 1999 1999 establishments in Australia Non-profit organisations based in Queensland Environmental charities based in Australia Great Barrier Reef